Hood catch



May 7, 1929. I R. H. DAVIS I 1,711,590

HOOD CATCH Filed Sept. 26, 1927' Patented. May 7, 19 29 UNITED STATES BAY H. DAVIS, OF

PATIENT OFFICE.

rnmcr, firemen, assrenon 'ro FYND rnonuc'rs COMPANY, or FLINT, mrcnrem, A conrom'rron or MICHIGAN.

noon CATCH.

Application flied September 26, 1927. Serial No. 221,875.

' One'of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a simple and economical construction of hood catch which may be ap lied to automobiles, as well as one which emodies as a feature the simultaneous unlatching and lifting of the hood and the utilizatlon of spring tension'in the hood for assisting in keeping the catch infixed position when fastened. v

"Another object is to provide a construction wherein the operating handle for the catch is provided with a portion which tends, when the handle is lifted, to disconnect the latch by pushing it away from the fixed member to which it is adapted to be connected.

With the above and other objects in view,

my invention consists in the arrangement,

" in Fig. 1 with the hood catch connected.

I have shown a conventional hood side piece 5 which is to be secured to the frame member 6. The frame member 6 is provided with a- Z shaped bracket 7 the lower flange of which is riveted to the frame 6 as at 20. I

A channel member 8 is secured to the inner face of the hood 5 by a clip 9 which is riveted to the-hood as at 21. The lower end of the channel member 8 is provided with a jaw 10 which is adapted to engage with the upper ledge of the Z bracket 7 when the catch is connected with the frame. A handle 11 is pivotally connected to the channel member 8 as at 12, being extended thru an opening 23 in the hood 5.

The handle 11 is provided with a notch 30 which is adapted to bear against oneedge of the opening 23 in the hood 5 when the catch is disconnected from the fixed Z shaped member 7 so that the handle will not rattle. The handle is also provided with a toe or eccentric portion 31 which is coextensive with the bottom portionof the channel 8 and passes thru the two sides 'of-the jaw 10. The -toe or eccentric portion extends at an angle to the channel 8 when the catch is disconnected but when downward pressure is exerted on the handle 11 so as to pivot the same the toe 31 assumes a position parallel with the channel 8 and the channel is moved downwardly until the jaw 10 connects with the upper ledge 35 of the sha ed member 7. When this contact is made t e free end of the Z shaped member 7 is in contact with the outer curved 'face of the toe 31 so that upward movement of the handlell, which tends to move the toe 31 outwardly, will act.

to push the lower portion of the channel 8 and the jaw 10 away'from the ledge 35 so as to unlatch the catch and permit free raising of the hood side iece 5. v

As will be rea ly seen by reference to Fig.

2, the jaw 10, bottom of the hood side piece 5 and Z bracket 7 are so positioned relative to each other that in order for the jaw to engage the ledge 35 the bottom of the hood side piece adjacent the catch must be inwardly distorted or sprung-and this distortion is of sufiicient extent that it continues after the jaw 10 has been engaged with the i ledge. 7 Thus the spring tension or distortionofthe hood tends to pull the channel piece 8 and its jaw 10 outwardly toward the Z bracket 7 to maintain the connection between the jaw and ledge after it has been made.

This action is of course assisted by the upward pulling on the channel piece 8 exerted thru a coil spring 40 which is positioned between the punched out projection 41 on the channel and the punched out projection 42 on the hood side member. After the catch has been disconnected the hood side iece loses its distortion, 'returns to its initial position and the catch is resiliently held by coordination of the .coil spring 40 and the notch 30 which engages the edge of the opening 23.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of my im roved device without departing. from the spirit of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may be reasonably included within the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

. 1. In combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member, a catch member on the side to move the catch member laterally away from the fixed member.

2. In combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member, a catch member on the side piece adapted to engage the fixed member, a handle pivoted on the catch member and means on the handle pressing on the fixed member when the handle is lifted to force the catch member away from the fixed member, said means comprising a projection on the pivoted part of the handle engaging a portion 'of the fixed member and movable awayfrpmithe catch member by said lifting.

3. In combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member, a member slidable on the side piece having a jaw engageable with the fixed member, an opening in the side piece, ahandle having a portion extended thru the opening and pivoted on the slidable member, resilient means holding. the jaw in engagement with the fixed member and an extension on the handle engageable with the fixed member adapted to push the slidable member and its jaw away from the fixed member when the handle moves on its pivot in one direction.

4.."11'1 combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member, a channel member slid-ably secured on the side piece, a spring in the channel member held at one end by the side piece and at the other by the channel member and normally tending to hold the channel piece above the fixed member, a jaw on the channel member engageable with the fixed member, a handle pivoted to the channel member whereby downward movement of the handle will move the channel to. en-

gage the jaw with the fixed member, and an extension on the handle, bearing against the fixed member to push the jaw from the fixed member when the handle is moved on its pivot in one direction.

5. In combination a hood side piece and a fixed member, a cabch member on the side piece adapted to engage the fixed member, a handle pivoted on the catch member, and a projection on the handle eccentric to the pivot point engageable with said fixed memher for. forcing the catch member laterally away from the fixed member when the handle is moved upwardly.

6. In combination, a hood side, piece and a fixed member, a catch member on the side Y piece, means moving the catch member to simultaneously engage it with the fixed member and place a portion of the hood adj acent the catch under distortion.

' 7. In combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member,'a member slidable on the side piece having a jaw engageable with the fixed member, an opening inthe side piece, a handle having a portion extended thru the opening and pivoted on the slidable member, resilient means including tension of the hood side'piece for holding the jaw in engagement with the fixed member and an extension on the handle engageable with the fixed member when the handle moves on its pivot inone direction.

8.'In combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member, a catch member on the side piece adapted to engage the fixed member, a handle pivoted on the catch member and means on the handle pressing laterally on the fixed member when thehandle' is lifted to move the catch member laterally away from the fixed member, and means for holding the catch in engagement with the fixed member including-the spring tension of the hood side piece when the catch is fastened.

9. In combination, ahood-side piece and a fixed member, a catch member adapted to engage the fixed member, means connecting the catch member to the hood member considerably above the fixed member, a handle pivotedfon the catch member for moving it into engagement with the fixed member, and means on the handle for holding a portion of the hood side piece under tension laterally when said engagement is made.

10. In combination, a hood side piece and a fixed member, a catch member adapted to engage the fixed member, means connecting the catch member to the hood .membcr considerably above the fixed member, a handle pivoted on the catch member for moving.

it into engagement with the fixed member, and means on the handle for holding a portion of the hood side piece under tension when said engagement is made, said means comprising an extension on the handle, movable by upward movement of the handle to push the catch member laterally away from the fixed member.

RAY H. DAVIS. 

